Softarex at Web Summit 2019. Here We Go Again.

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Shane Gau

Lead Digital Transformation Consultant

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Why Web Summit 2019 (again)?

Web Summit is considered to be one of the largest IT conferences in the world (it was Inc. magazine to say that). Whatever Web Summit 2019 is, you rarely get the opportunity to face such a large number of influential individuals and companies gathered together under one roof. Well, technically there were six roofs. For three days, fresh (and not) startups were meeting with big investors, sharing experiences, feedback, looking for partners and new ideas.

This year the conference has celebrated its 9 years and this time it gathered 70 thousand people from 160 countries, but it all started small: 400 guests back in 2010! No other conference in the world has grown so rapidly. Forbes, The Atlantic, The New York Times (beside Inc.) called this event the world’s largest IT.

Experts across various industries came together to discuss everything from healthtech to future societies. There were 1200 diverse speakers (such as Edward Snowden, Tony Blair, and Eric Cantona) with topics like data protection, sustainability, and whistleblowing emerging as the trends of the conference. And that’s just skimming the surface. All of them were united by one thing — modern technologies and how they affect our lives.

The Web Summit’s 2019 highlights

There were 23 stages with various focuses: Auto/Tech about autonomous vehicles, ContentMakers with leading media companies about content, Future Societies with global leaders and tech visionaries about technologies transforming the ways of our lives, Startup University about navigating your startup and lot more!

It goes without saying that one of the most high-profile speakers there was Edward Snowden on the live video link from Russia. The exiled whistleblower, who had revealed the extent of US government data snooping back in 2013, detailed how entrenched systems on the internet make the population vulnerable for the benefit of the privileged, and called for a restructuring of how companies operate on the internet.

Shortly after Snowden’s speech, Guo Ping, the rotating chairman of Huawei took the Center Stage. He explained why 5G and AI are the “tipping point” for information and communications technology. Especially, he pointed out the concept of “5G+X”, where the “X” stands for such technologies as AI, VR, and AR, among others — as the “new electricity”. On the same stage the following day, Ronan Dunne, executive vice president and CEO of Verizon Consumer Group, said that 5G is so powerful, that the best way to think about it is as a wholly new technology, ushering in a new era of transformation. Big times are coming!

Marc Raibert, Founder and CEO at Boston Dynamics, brought their most famous (and definitely cutest) robot-dog, or dog-robot, Spot. And there were more robots — Sophia the Robot and Philip K. Dick (the Android one) from Hanson robotics presented by Dr. David Hanson and Dr. Ben Goertzel from SingularityNET. By the way, Sophia the Robot is very famous: she has participated in a lot of high-profile interviews, science conferences, and TV shows.

Later during the first day, Google’s Sustainability Officer Kate Brandt presented Google’s first-ever sustainability accelerator with access to resources and tools for social impact startups aimed to solve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Why did we attend?

Since Web Summit gathers and connects thousands of promising people and their startups with investors, so this is an ideal conference to spread the word about FINMATEX and WAITO and, of course, to receive a feedback market. Here it is possible to get acquainted with the right people and competitors of all kinds, met with representatives of business accelerators, gather valuable feedback and find investors or future partners.

FINMATEX

FINMATEX — a year ago it was information and consulting platform with a chatbot, which helped users to handle personal finances and investment issues in a simple format of a messenger. Over the past year, the concept has changed significantly, due to the past Web Summit’s feedback and fintech market trends.

Now the platform focuses on financial organizations: it allows companies to create branded marketplaces with their products, as well as chatbots and mobile applications with AI-based assistance. And all this is based on FINMATEX. The independent FINMATEX chatbot for ordinary users (like we are) has survived the changes and rocks even better — you can check it out yourself.

The booth’s showcase was really good: many interested banks and ordinary users, as well as several interviews by major online media.

WAITO

WAITO also didn’t walk past the changes this year, although not as significant as FINMATEX. The app’s concept is still the same: it helps to find interesting fellow travelers before a flight and a company at an airport. But furthermore, it has gained useful details.

We’ve worked through and honed the process of searching and communicating between users — it runs like clockwork: App Store, Google Play — download, use, and share your thoughts with us! We also established ways of monetization through airlines and airports, so now it’s a real kick-off win-win for each party. Really, we can’t even imagine who won’t like it.

Like the previous year, this time WAITO was over welcomed. A lot of amazed and interested people who installed the app straightaway. Some future collaboration opportunities from various travel companies and at least 4 interviews.

Everything in its right place

At the Web Summit, our team received very useful contacts, ideas, and feedback from users, investors and other developers, as well as promising proposals for future cooperation!

Want to know more about our expertise? Check out the list of our projects. We are always eager to share our best practices and wide open to learn something new, so if you have any questions or ideas – fill free to write to us. Let’s develop the world together!